Henderson Texas Travel Guide

Welcome to Henderson, Texas

Located about 50 miles southeast of Tyler on Texas Highway 64 at its intersection with U.S. Highway 259 and Highway 79 is the City of Henderson, the county seat of Rusk County.

The population of Henderson is about 13,000 residents according to the 2020 Federal Census. Elevation is 512 feet above sea level.

The town was named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of the state of Texas. The downtown business district was designed around the courthouse square, and grew into an important commercial center for the area.

Nearby communities include Kilgore, Rusk, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Jacksonville, Bullard, Longview, and Carthage.

Henderson Texas Tourism and Attractions

Downtown features an active Henderson Main Street Program, and has a number of antique stores and historic markers in the National Register Downtown Historic Square. The first building in Henderson was constructed in 1838.

A Christmas shopping extravaganza in Henderson, Texas

Upscale shopping, eateries, antiques, floral, dolls, custom jewelry and more are found in stores and boutiques downtown. Henderson also has a variety of restaurants and shopping on Highway US 79/259, the main artery through town.

Henderson features a number of activities and events, such as the Heritage Syrup Festival staged during the 2nd Saturday of November, the Antique Tractor Show, Fourth of July parade, and Downtown at Christmas.

It has both spring and fall festivals, and a Christmas parade and home tour. Popular attractions include the Howard Dickinson House Museum, the Depot Museum Complex of nine buildings which houses a county history museum and a children's discovery center, and the Monte Verdi Plantation.

The countryside around Henderson features rolling hills and many lakes, and wildflower trails dot the surrounding area. The trails are usually at their peaks between April 15 - May 31 of each year.

For more information on events in the area, we recommend contacting the City of Henderson and the Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the Visit Henderson Texas website.

 

Scenes in downtown Henderson, Texas

Henderson Civic Center

The Henderson Civic Center is located conveniently in Lake Forest Park on Texas Highway 64 West. Surrounded by beautifully wooded landscape and a small lake, the Civic Center is a 19,000 square foot multi-use facility. With flexible meeting space and a full slate of amenities, the Henderson Civic Center is the perfect site for business meetings, conferences, luncheons, trade shows, weddings, birthday, reunions and receptions.

Read more about the Henderson Civic Center

Rusk County Airport The Rusk County Airport (RFI) is located in Henderson at 3500 County Road 416A. Founded in 1933, today the airport offers easy access to surrounding cities, fewer delays, and growing infrastructure and services. Rusk County Airport Website Shown below is a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star at the entrance to the airport (staff photo)

City Hall The City of Henderson, a Texas Main Street City, has the offices of the City Hall and Economic Development located at 400 West Main Street, Henderson, TX 75652-3099 Phone: 903.657.6551 City of Henderson Texas website Henderson Economic Development Corporation

Henderson ISD The Henderson ISD operates the Montgomery Achievement Center, Wylie Primary School, Wylie Elementary School, Northside Intermediate School, Henderson Middle School (shown to the right) and Henderson High School. The website of the Henderson Independent School District (ISD)

More Scenes Around Henderson

Mural in downtown Henderson

Rusk County Historical Foundation

UT Health East Texas in Henderson

Yates Park, operated by the City of Henderson

Henderson Texas Motels and Accommodations

Henderson has several motels, hotels and other accommodations. Over 35 restaurants are also located in Henderson.

Baymont Inn & Suites Henderson Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Henderson View details on all hotels in Henderson

In addition, there are other accommodations in nearby Tyler including a Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Select, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Country Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, and others.

 

Rusk County Henderson is the county seat of Rusk County, named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a secretary of war of the Republic of Texas. The courthouse is located at 115 North Main Street. Rusk County website

Interactive Map of Henderson Texas (courtesy of Google)

Map of Upper East Texas showing the location of Henderson

Martin Creek Lake & State Park Martin Creek Lake is located in Rusk County, on Martin Creek just northeast of Henderson Texas Highway 43. It covers a surface area of 4,981 acres, with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake was impounded in 1974 to provide cooling water for a power plant. Since Martin Creek is a power plant lake, water temperatures are elevated, especially during the winter months. Anglers are most successful at catching largemouth bass during the winter and early spring. Martin Creek Lake State Park, which consists of 286.9 acres, is located in the area. Details at Texas Parks and Wildlife

More Information about Henderson

For more information, we recommend a visit to the ...

• City of Henderson Texas website

• Main Street Henderson website

• Visit Henderson Texas website or Henderson Tourism on Facebook

• Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce

• Henderson Independent School District (ISD)

• Henderson Economic Development Corporation

• Rusk County

Day Trips from Henderson Texas

While visiting Henderson and the Rusk County area, you may want to take other interesting day trips in several directions:

Historic Postcards from Henderson Texas

Circle Restaurant and Drive-In, Henderson

Traffic circle in Henderson Texas

Woodlawn Hills Court in Henderson

Hotel Randolph, Henderson, Texas